Liverpool host a Championship outfit Cardiff City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Anfield on Sunday afternoon with kickoff at 15:00.
Premier League title race was beginning to appear as a one-horse race following recent Liverpool and Chelsea slumps, but it is not all done and dusted just yet for Liverpool as back-to-back victories against Brentford and Crystal Palace has the Merseysiders right back on track and are now nine points behind Man City with a game in hand.
However, the Reds cannot afford another slips ups in the remainder of the league if they are to stay in the Premier League title race. Following the winter break, an FA Cup tie against a Championship Outfit is a perfect distraction and worm-up for Jurgen Klopp’s men who need to get their minds right and a bit of more confidence ahead of a hectic schedule.
The Reds will be also be looking to maintain their momentum as they are in a good form having lost none of their last six matches across all competitions claiming four wins and two draws in the run and are coming off a three-match winning streak. In the run they knockout Shrewsbury in the third round of the FA Cup with 4-1 victory and they will want to continue on in the cup.
Meanwhile Cardiff City have struggled in the Championship this season with the side claiming eight wins, five draws and 15 defeats from their 28 league matches to claiming 29 points which have them sitting just two places above the relegation zone.
However, Cardiff have been in a fine form recently as they have claimed seven points from their last five league matches, which has seen them climb nine points above the relegation zone and they head into the match in high spirits as they are coming off back-to-back victories against Nottingham (2-1) and Barnsley (0-1) in the Championship.
City knocked out Preston in the third round of the FA Cup and will be looking for an upset here as they aim at boosting their confidence ahead of important Championship schedule that could see their season saved or doomed.
Liverpool vs Cardiff head to head
Both sides have met in six encounters since 2007 with Liverpool winning in all occasions.
- Cardiff 0-2 Liverpool 21/04/19
- Liverpool 4-1 Cardiff 27/10/18
- Cardiff 3-6 Liverpool 22/03/14
- Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff 21/12/13
- Cardiff 2-3 Liverpool 26/02/12
Home
- Palace 1-3 Liverpool
- Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
- Liverpool 3-0 Brentford
- Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
- Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Away
- Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff
- Cardiff 2-1 Nottingham
- Bristol City 3-2 Cardiff
- Cardiff 0-1 Blackburn
- Cardiff 2-1 Preston
Liverpool team news
Liverpool will continue to be without Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah who are still representing their nations in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Thiago Alcantara will due illness.
Cardiff team news
Cardiff will be without Sean Morrison through an injury, while Max Watters, Cody Drameh, Alfie Doughty and Ikpeazu are all cup-tied and will be absent for the clash, and Curtis Nelson and joe Ralls are doubts.
Prediction and odds
- Liverpool win
- Both sides to score (no)
- Goals over 2.5
